A look back: UConn and the Big East, during the glory days

Kevin Duffy

Updated 6:59 pm, Saturday, January 26, 2013

Photo: Julie Jacobson, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, center, passes the ball off against Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, right, late in the second half of a quarterfinal NCAA college basketball game at the Big East men's tournament Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Syracuse won 127-117 in six overtimes. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) less

Syracuse's Jonny Flynn, center, passes the ball off against Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, right, late in the second half of a quarterfinal NCAA college basketball game at the Big East men's tournament ... more

Photo: Julie Jacobson, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Syracuse's Eric Devendorf is mobbed by teammates as he stands on a table after making a three-point basket at the end of regulation against Connecticut during a quarterfinal NCAA college basketball game at the Big East men's tournament Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The shot, which would have won the game and was originally ruled good, was reviewed and referees determined the clock had run down before the ball left Devendorf's hand. The game extended into six overtime periods before Syracuse won 127-117. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) less

Syracuse's Eric Devendorf is mobbed by teammates as he stands on a table after making a three-point basket at the end of regulation against Connecticut during a quarterfinal NCAA college basketball game at the ... more

Syracuse's Eric Devendorf shoots between Connecticut's Gavin Edwards (24) and Hasheem Thabeet, rear, during second half basketball action at the Big East basketball tournament Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at ... more

Photo: Bill Kostroun, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Kerry Kittles of Villanova (30) is guarded by Jason Murdock of Providence in the second half of a Big East Tournament game at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, March 11, 1995, New York. Kittles was game high scorer with 29 points to lead Villanova to a 90-75 win. Villanova faces Connecticut on Sunday in the finals. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) less

Kerry Kittles of Villanova (30) is guarded by Jason Murdock of Providence in the second half of a Big East Tournament game at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, March 11, 1995, New York. Kittles was game high ... more

Photo: Kathy Willens, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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** FILE ** Villanova's Randy Foye drives against Boston College during their NCAA Regional semifinal basketball game in Minneapolis, Friday, March 24. 2006. Foye was one of four prospects who worked out in front of Minnesota Timberwolves coaches and executives on Thursday, June 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall,file) less

** FILE ** Villanova's Randy Foye drives against Boston College during their NCAA Regional semifinal basketball game in Minneapolis, Friday, March 24. 2006. Foye was one of four prospects who worked out in ... more

Photo: CHARLIE NEIBERGALL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair goes up to dunk in the second half of an exhibition college basketball game against Seton Hill in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008. Pittsburgh won 102-51. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair goes up to dunk in the second half of an exhibition college basketball game against Seton Hill in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008. Pittsburgh won 102-51. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Photo: Keith Srakocic, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Georgetown?s Allen Iverson, left, drives to the lane against St. John?s Tarik Turner, right, in the first half in Landover, Md., on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1995. (AP Photo/Ted Mathias)

Georgetown?s Allen Iverson, left, drives to the lane against St. John?s Tarik Turner, right, in the first half in Landover, Md., on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1995. (AP Photo/Ted Mathias)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Marquette's Steve Novak, the team's leading scorer, works on his shot during practice in San Diego for Marquette's first round matchup against Alabama in the NCAA tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) less

Marquette's Steve Novak, the team's leading scorer, works on his shot during practice in San Diego for Marquette's first round matchup against Alabama in the NCAA tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in San ... more

Photo: LENNY IGNELZI, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Georgetownís Allen Iverson (3) goes to the basket during practice on Wednesday, March 22, 1995 during practice for the NCAA Southeast Regional at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Ala. The Hoyas play North Carolina on Thursday. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan) less

Georgetownís Allen Iverson (3) goes to the basket during practice on Wednesday, March 22, 1995 during practice for the NCAA Southeast Regional at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Ala. The ... more

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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St Johns College players carry their coach , Lou Carnesecca after defeating Providence College 72-53 Saturday March 2, 1985 in New York. Players from left to right Chris Mullen; Bill Wennington; Ron Stewart; Mike Moses. (AP Photo) less

St Johns College players carry their coach , Lou Carnesecca after defeating Providence College 72-53 Saturday March 2, 1985 in New York. Players from left to right Chris Mullen; Bill Wennington; Ron Stewart; ... more

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim talks with officials Jeff Anderson, right, and Tim Higgins during the first half against Connecticut in an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Syracuse won 85-67. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli) less

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim talks with officials Jeff Anderson, right, and Tim Higgins during the first half against Connecticut in an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 11, ... more

Photo: Kevin Rivoli, Associated Press

A look back: UConn and the Big East, during the glory days

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1. SYRACUSE (ACC in 2013)

Series history: Syracuse leads 54-36

UConn's moment: In the infant stages of two decades of Big East supremacy, UConn sank 11-of-14 free throws in the final three minutes to fend off the Orange 78-75 for the 1990 Big East championship. It was the first league title for the Huskies, and there would be six more to come.

Syracuse's moment: Really, the moment -- which spanned almost four hours --belonged to both teams. Syracuse simply outlasted the Huskies, pulling away late (really, really late) for a 127-117 six-overtime victory in the 2009 Big East tournament's second round. Eight players fouled out; Jonny Flynn played 67 minutes; Paul Harris posted 29 points and 22 rebounds; and UConn's backcourt trio of A.J. Price, Kemba Walker and Craig Austrie shot 5-for-30 from 3-point range. It was the longest college basketball game of the shot clock era.

The quote: "I just wanted to get the game over with. For a second I'm thinking, Lord, let's just get this game over, go home. Whoever wins, wins the game. It was getting near that time." -- Jonny Flynn after Syracuse's six-overtime win

2. PITTSBURGH (ACC in 2013)

Series history: UConn leads 32-29

UConn's moment: The Huskies led just once, but a Khalid El-Amin basket with two seconds remaining was enough to propel UConn past Pitt 70-69 in December 1998. Albert Mouring hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to cut the deficit to 69-68. It was the first of many close victories in the 1999 championship run.

Pitt's moment: After coming up short in the 2001 and 2002 Big East title games, a gimpy Brandin Knight and Pitt blasted the Huskies 74-56 to claim the 2003 league championship. Throughout the 2000s, Pitt may have been UConn's fiercest rival. The two teams -- equally rugged and physical on the interior -- engaged in many classic, grind-it-out battles.

UConn's moment: In what became a back-and-forth duel between Ray Allen and Allen Iverson, UConn's Allen -- among the nation's top guards -- got the last laugh. His legs flailing and body not quite squared up, Allen's leaner hit front rim, backboard and front rim again before dropping in with 13 seconds left in the 1996 Big East championship. Iverson missed a foul-line fallaway on the ensuing possession, and UConn escaped with a 75-74 victory.

Georgetown's moment: A crowd of 15,673 -- at the time, the largest in New England college basketball history -- packed the Hartford Civic Center to watch Patrick Ewing and No. 1 Georgetown handle UConn 81-69 in February of 1984. Ewing, a junior, had 18 points and six rebounds.

The quote: "He shot a shot that there was no way in hell you thought it was going in. But the ball ends up going in the basket. That's why he's a good player." -- Georgetown coach John Thompson after Ray Allen's game-winner in the 1996 Big East final

4. VILLANOVA (Catholic League in 2014)

Series history: Villanova leads 32-30

UConn's moment: Although neither made the 2006 Final Four, UConn and Villanova were perhaps the nation's top two teams throughout the season. Thirteen days after being toppled by 'Nova (and dropped from No. 1 in the polls), the Huskies pulled away for an 89-75 win in the rematch. The crowd at Gampel Pavilion that February afternoon was quite possibly the arena's loudest in the past decade.

Villanova's moment: In February 1995, the Huskies hit No. 1 in the national polls for the first time in program history and extended their Big East-record conference winning streak to 18 games. Then Kerry Kittles, in one of the league's most prolific single-game efforts, dropped 37 points on UConn, which fell 96-73 on its home court.

The quote: "As a fan of the Big East, growing up in Philadelphia, and watching what (Calhoun) did with the UConn program, I'm in awe. I'm in awe of his job at UConn, and also his career." -- Villanova coach Jay Wright on the eve of Calhoun's retirement

5. LOUISVILLE (ACC in 2014)

Series history: Louisville leads 8-6

UConn's moment: Kemba Walker willed the Huskies to their fifth victory in as many days, this one a 69-66 triumph over Louisville for the 2011 Big East championship. Walker scored 19 points, but a dish to Jeremy Lamb gave UConn a 65-64 lead, the final lead change of game.

Louisville's moment: The Cardinals, an eventual 2012 Final Four qualifier, sent the Huskies to one of their most humiliating losses in recent memory: A 80-59 shellacking in February of 2012 at the KFC Yum! Center. Louisville led by as many as 30.

The quote: "It was a smart move for (Pittsburgh and Syracuse), in their minds. Syracuse and Pittsburgh's Presidents want something different. They're not taking into consideration all the alumni that Syracuse has in the area. Pitt can go if they want, but it makes no sense with Connecticut because of the unbelievable success that Connecticut has had. ... To me, with Connecticut, I think it's just a ridiculous move." -- Rick Pitino in September 2011 on UConn's interest in the ACC

6. ST. JOHN'S (Catholic League in 2014)

Series history: St. John's leads 34-28

UConn's moment: Ranked No. 1 and sporting an 18-0 record, UConn bounced back from a 12-point second-half deficit at Madison Square Garden and ousted No. 9 St. John's 78-74. This game, a late January 1999 battle between two rival programs and two familiar coaches (Mike Jarvis was the freshman coach at Northeastern when Calhoun led the varsity), would set the stage for the 1999 Big East championship.

St. Johns' moment: After trailing by seven with 37 seconds remaining, UConn forced overtime against the Red Storm, but was unable to secure the victory in a heated February 2002 matchup at the Garden. Calhoun, arguing an Emeka Okafor foul, was ejected in the first half. St. John's guard Marcus Hatten scored a career-high 34 points in the 85-83 win.

The quote: "Connecticut is one of the most arrogant teams, but they always back it up." -- Former St. John's forward Ron Artest after a 1999 loss to UConn

7. NOTRE DAME (ACC in 2014)

Series history: UConn leads 18-10

UConn's moment: The nation's longest home winning streak (45 games) was snapped when the Huskies defeated the Irish 69-61 at the Joyce Center on Jan. 25, 2009. The Notre Dame backcourt was stifled, and UConn forward Jeff Adrien pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds.

The quote: "That's another blow to the Big East, quite frankly, to see him retire. What he did at Connecticut, to win the national championships he did in a short window and built what he built, I don't know if that (had) ever been done before." -- Notre Dame coach Mike Brey on Calhoun's retirement